VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) encouraged the Pagar Alam city government in South Sumatra to follow up on the use of green energy in day-to-day life, so that it can become Indonesia's first zero emission city.

"Pagar Alam will be the first zero emission city in Indonesia, if the use of green energy in daily life can be followed up,” President Jokowi stated at the Merdeka Square, Pagar Alam City, South Sumatra, Monday.

At this time, Pagar Alam has developed green energy by starting to produce electricity using micro-hydro energy. President Jokowi highly lauds the progress achieved in the use of green energy in Pagar Alam.

Currently, the president noted that all countries in the world had begun planning the transition to new and renewable energy by using solar energy, hydropower, geothermal, underwater currents, sea surface heat, and wind.

Indonesia holds vast potential for the development of new and renewable energy, as it has abundant natural resources. Based on the latest data, Indonesia has a total potential of 418 thousand megawatts of new and renewable energy.

"After we calculate the new and renewable energy potential, we have 418 thousand megawatts, whether it comes from hydropower, geothermal, underwater currents, sea surface heat, wind, or solar power,” the president noted.

With the development of green energy and supported by its natural beauty, the president believes that the entire country will witness the progress of Pagar Alam City. The president emphasized that the central government will continue to support the development of green energy in Pagar Alam.

"I have already conveyed it to the minister of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), the governor of South Sumatra, and the mayor of Pagar Alam City,” he noted.

Attendees at the event also comprised Minister of State-owned Enterprises Erick Thohir, Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Governor of South Sumatra Herman Deru, Mayor of Pagar Alam City Alpian Maskoni, and other officials.

Indonesia has created a roadmap for energy transition to achieve the target of net zero emissions by 2060, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arifin Tasrif earlier stated.

“Indonesia is committed to addressing matters pertaining to energy access, smart and clean technology, and financing in the energy sector,” the minister noted.

The move is aimed at helping achieve the target of the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the Nationally Determined Contributions in 2030 by 29 percent under a business-as-usual scenario and 41 percent with international support.

The main strategies to be pursued by the country to achieve the target encompass the extensive development of new and renewable energy and gradual retirement of fossil fuel-fired power plants in accordance with their age, he explained.

Moreover, the government will, in stages, make optimum use of pump storage, battery energy, storage system (BESS), and hydrogen fuel cell from 2031, he revealed.  (Antaranews)